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ItemZeitschriftenaufsatzOpen Access
Oxygen and carbon isotope variations in a modern rodent community : implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions
(2012) Gehler, Alexander; Tuetken, Thomas; Pack, Andreas
Background: The oxygen (d18O) and carbon (d13C) isotope compositions of bioapatite from skeletal remains of fossil mammals are well-established proxies for the reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic conditions. Stable isotope studies of modern analogues are an important prerequisite for such reconstructions from fossil mammal remains. While numerous studies have investigated modern large- and medium-sized mammals, comparable studies are rare for small mammals. Due to their high abundance in terrestrial ecosystems, short life spans and small habitat size, small mammals are good recorders of local environments. Methodology/Findings: The d18O and d13C values of teeth and bones of seven sympatric modern rodent species collected from owl pellets at a single locality were measured, and the inter-specific, intra-specific and intra-individual variations were evaluated. Minimum sample sizes to obtain reproducible population d18O means within one standard deviation were determined. These parameters are comparable to existing data from large mammals. Additionally, the fractionation between coexisting carbonate (d18OCO3) and phosphate (d18OPO4) in rodent bioapatite was determined, and d18O values were compared to existing calibration equations between the d18O of rodent bioapatite and local surface water (d18OLW). Specific calibration equations between d18OPO4 and d18OLW may be applicable on a taxonomic level higher than the species. However, a significant bias can occur when bone-based equations are applied to tooth-data and vice versa, which is due to differences in skeletal tissue formation times. d13C values reflect the rodents’ diet and agree well with field observations of their nutritional behaviour. Conclusions/Significance: Rodents have a high potential for the reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental conditions by means of bioapatite d18O and d13C analysis. No significant disadvantages compared to larger mammals were observed. However, for refined palaeoenvironmental reconstructions a better understanding of stable isotope signatures in modern analogous communities and potential biases due to seasonality effects, population dynamics and tissue formation rates is necessary.
ItemZeitschriftenaufsatzOpen Access
Opportunistic feeding strategy for the earliest Old World hypsodont equids : evidence from stable isotope and dental wear proxies
(2013) Tütken, Thomas; Kaiser, Thomas M.; Vennemann, Torsten; Merceron, Gildas
Background: The equid Hippotherium primigenium, with moderately hypsodont cheek teeth, rapidly dispersed through Eurasia in the early late Miocene. This dispersal of hipparions into the Old World represents a major faunal event during the Neogene. The reasons for this fast dispersal of H. primigenium within Europe are still unclear. Based on its hypsodonty, a high specialization in grazing is assumed although the feeding ecology of the earliest European hipparionines within a pure C3 plant ecosystem remains to be investigated. Methodology/Principal Findings: A multi-proxy approach, combining carbon and oxygen isotopes from enamel as well as dental meso- and microwear analyses of cheek teeth, was used to characterize the diet of the earliest European H. primigenium populations from four early Late Miocene localities in Germany (Eppelsheim, Ho¨wenegg), Switzerland (Charmoille), and France (Soblay). Enamel d13C values indicate a pure C3 plant diet with small (,1.4%) seasonal variations for all four H. primigenium populations. Dental wear and carbon isotope compositions are compatible with dietary differences. Except for the Ho¨wenegg hipparionines, dental microwear data indicate a browse-dominated diet. By contrast, the tooth mesowear patterns of all populations range from low to high abrasion suggesting a wide spectrum of food resources. Conclusions/Significance: Combined dental wear and stable isotope analysis enables refined palaeodietary reconstructions in C3 ecosystems. Different H. primigenium populations in Europe had a large spectrum of feeding habits with a high browsing component. The combination of specialized phenotypes such as hypsodont cheek teeth with a wide spectrum of diet illustrates a new example of the Liem’s paradox. This dietary flexibility associated with the capability to exploit abrasive food such as grasses probably contributed to the rapid dispersal of hipparionines from North America into Eurasia and the fast replacement of the brachydont equid Anchitherium by the hypsodont H. primigenium in Europe.
ItemDissertationOpen Access